5 Reasons To Start Snowshoeing

There’s just something about snow that’s fun, whether you’re building a snowman, sledding, skiing or just having a snowball fight. Another great activity for the snow is snowshoeing, and if you haven’t tried it yet you’re missing out. Here are five great reasons to start snowshoeing:

1. Snowshoeing is easy to learn

If you can walk and hike, you can learn to snowshoe. This makes it great for the entire family, from kids to grandparents. It will take a little getting used to, but after a few steps you’ll definitely be on your way to enjoying a new sport. Contrast this with skiing or snowboarding, which can take multiple days to learn and much longer to master.

2. You can enjoy the landscape

A snow covered landscape is beautiful and breathtaking. With snowshoeing you can really get out and enjoy it. You can hike to areas of pristine beauty. It’s easy to get away from it all, including away from crowds of people. Many areas that are inaccessible in the warmer months become navigable in the winter, like areas that are marshes or covered in water. You’ll need to be careful out in the backcountry though, so make sure someone knows where you are and that conditions are safe.

3. It's great exercise

Snowshoeing provides excellent exercise while enjoying the outdoors. The crisp winter air is invigorating and healthy. Snowshoeing provides a lot more fitness than a typical walk does. You can burn from about 420–1000, calories per hour depending on the terrain, the weight you’re carrying and how fast you are going. And since it gets you outside and active in the wintertime, you’re way ahead of most people who stay sedentary.

4. Snowshoeing is affordable

One of the nicest things about snowshoeing is that is much less expensive than other winter sports, such as skiing. There is less equipment, and no lift fees. In fact, it’s about 20% of the cost of skiing. For equipment you just need a pair of snowshoes, some boots and proper winter clothes. Once you have them, snowshoeing is essentially free. Another benefit to having less gear is that it easily fits into the trunk of a car without the need for expensive racks like those often required for skis and snowboards.

5. Snowshoeing is social

Snowshoeing is a fantastic way to spend a day with family and friends. You could organize a group hike for the day with a stop for lunch. Or you could meet new people with similar interests by forming a club or your own, or joining one that already exists. If planning a snowshoeing event, be sure to take into account the abilities of the individuals in the group and plan appropriately. If you search online, you are sure to find several routes that would be appropriate for different abilities. Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? Snowshoeing is easy, cheap, healthy, tons of fun and gives you access to places and vistas you may not otherwise get in the warmer months. There really is no downside to snowshoeing, but if you’d rather try it out before committing, you can always rent some snowshoes or go on a guided trip. In any case, definitely give snowshoeing a try this winter.